Thus Spake Zarathustra - Penn State University

Thus Spake ZarathustraThis, however, is the third thing which I heard—namely, persuadeth he his will who would be master over a stillthat commanding is more difficult than obeying. And weaker one. That delight alone he is unwilling to forego.not only because the commander beareth the burden of And as the lesser surrendereth himself to the greaterall obeyers, and because this burden readily crusheth that he may have delight and power over the least of all,him:—so doth even the greatest surrender himself, and staketh—An attempt and a risk seemed all commanding unto life, for the sake of power.me; and whenever it commandeth, the living thing risketh It is the surrender of the greatest to run risk and danger,and play dice for death.itself thereby.Yea, even when it commandeth itself, then also must it And where there is sacrifice and service and love-glances,atone for its commanding. Of its own law must it becomethe judge and avenger and victim.weaker then slink into the fortress, and into the heart ofthere also is the will to be master. By by-ways doth theHow doth this happen! so did I ask myself. What the mightier one—and there stealeth power.persuadeth the living thing to obey, and command, and And this secret spake Life herself unto me. “Behold,”even be obedient in commanding?said she, “I am that which must ever surpass itself.Hearken now unto my word, ye wisest ones! Test it To be sure, ye call it will to procreation, or impulseseriously, whether I have crept into the heart of life itself,and into the roots of its heart!fold: but all that is one and the same secret.towards a goal, towards the higher, remoter, more mani-Wherever I found a living thing, there found I Will to Rather would I succumb than disown this one thing;Power; and even in the will of the servant found I the will and verily, where there is succumbing and leaf-falling, lo,to be master.there doth Life sacrifice itself—for power!That to the stronger the weaker shall serve—thereto That I have to be struggle, and becoming, and pur-110